2018 New York Auto Show: 2019 Hyundai Tucson

Continuing the SUV theme at the 2018 New York Auto Show was the 2019 Hyundai Tucson. Unlike the all-new Toyota RAV4 and Subaru Forester, the 2019 Tucson isn’t all-new, rather a mid-life facelift taking cues from the larger and also just-revealed new Santa Fe. Hyundai Australia has confirmed its local release for the third quarter of 2018.

Whilst the 2019 Hyundai Tucson may not be all-new, Hyundai has refreshed it to keep modern and fresh, with a new exterior look as well as an all-new interior layout to fix one of our only criticisms of the car – its interior quality. Available equipment has been improved, as has the car’s active safety levels.

“From a design perspective, onlookers will recognize a generational harmony between Hyundai’s new 2019 Santa Fe and the refreshed Tucson,” said Chris Chapman, lead designer, Hyundai Motor America.

“The signature elements of the Hyundai cascading grille and modern-day surfacing found in the rear view create shadowy, dramatic impressions and represent the Hyundai DNA.”

The biggest clue to the 2019 Hyundai Tucson update is the exterior, with a mild refresh appearing more significant close up. Both the head- and tailights have been altered for a more modern look than the previous model, with new LED daytime running light technology. Hyundai’s corporate cascade grille now features proudly at the front, whilst a new range of alloy wheels ranging from 17- to 19-inches now feature.

The interior of the 2019 Hyundai Tucson has scored the biggest upgrade in the mid-life update of the car, with a new layout as well as a boost in quality – a stitched dashboard is evident from photos, as is an i30-like tablet infotainment system. Extra equipment is available on the Tucson (though not confirmed for Australia) such as a surround-view camera system, wireless phone charging, second-row USB charging, radar cruise control with stop & go functionality, driver attention alert as well as automatic high beam headlights.

The 2019 Hyundai Tucson remains mechanically unchanged, and upon its on sale date in the third quarter of 2018, its four-cylinder engine lineup is expected to be identical to the current model. This includes a 121kW/203Nm 2.0-litre petrol with front wheel drive, a 130kW/265Nm 1.6-litre turbo petrol with all-wheel drive and a 136kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo diesel with all-wheel drive. The 1.6-litre turbo petrol is matched to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, whilst the 2.0-litre petrol and diesel units are available with a six-speed torque converter automatic.

Thus far in 2018, Hyundai have sold 4,625 units of the Tucson, which is down 14.3 percent on this time last year and trailing the Toyota RAV4 (5,573 units), Nissan X-Trail (5,794 units), and Mazda CX-5 (6,604 units), with the Honda CR-V not far behind on 4,538 sales.

The 2019 Hyundai Tucson has been confirmed for a third quarter 2018 release in Australia. Stay tuned to Chasing Cars for news and reviews regarding the Hyundai range.